Appeals court holds preliminary hearing in Yoon Suk Yeol's insurrection appeals trial
Published: 27 Apr. 2026, 21:47
![Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, attends former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's insurrection trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Nov. 19, 2025, in this file photo provided by the court. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/27/7373304c-849f-4de0-8c30-e31af9243fae.jpg)
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, attends former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's insurrection trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Nov. 19, 2025, in this file photo provided by the court. [YONHAP]
An appeals court held the first preliminary hearing of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's insurrection trial on Monday over his failed 2024 martial law bid after a lower court sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The session at the Seoul High Court followed appeals from both Yoon and a special counsel team over the February ruling that convicted the ousted president on charges of leading an insurrection through his martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024.
Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team had demanded the death penalty for Yoon at the lower court, accusing him of declaring the decree to incite a riot with the intent of subverting the constitutional order.
Yoon's short-lived attempt at martial law ultimately failed after the National Assembly voted down his decree. The former president was subsequently impeached and ousted from office.
Preliminary hearings do not require defendants' attendance and focus on scheduling future proceedings.
Yoon, who is currently in custody, was absent from Monday's session.
The other defendants in the trial are former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who received a 30-year prison term on charges of playing a key role in the alleged insurrection, and six former senior military and police officials.
Kim's lawyers filed a request at the start of the hearing, asking the court to seek the Constitutional Court's judgment on the constitutionality of the bench overseeing the trial.
The trial is being led by a newly established tribunal dedicated to handling insurrection charges.
In the event that the court rejects the request, the lawyers said they will file a petition directly with the Constitutional Court for review.
The appellate court plans to hold its next preliminary hearing on May 7 before beginning formal trial hearings.
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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